Welcome Message

Merhba! On behalf of the ESPU board, scientific committee and local organising committee, I am delighted to welcome you all to the Maltese islands for the next ESPU Congress, in our historic capital city, Valletta, from the 21st to 24th April 2027. 

A venue with medical history of its own

The congress will take place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC): few conference venues can claim a more fitting past. The MCC occupies the Sacra Infermeria, the great hospital built from 1574 by the Order of St John. In its day, it was one of the most advanced hospitals in Europe — patients of every background, from pilgrims to sailors to nobles, were treated free of charge in a Long Ward that stretched over 150 metres. By the 17th century, the building housed its own school of anatomy and surgery. The hospital had two dedicated Lithotomy Wards for removing bladder stones, and its most celebrated surgeon, Michel'Angelo Grima, was renowned across 18th-century Europe for performing a lithotomy in under three minutes. The hospital was restored and reopened in 1979 as the Mediterranean Conference Centre, winning international acclaim for the restoration. Delegates can even take a self-guided walk through the original hospital wards during the conference. It's a rare privilege to meet in a building where the practice of medicine has been evolving for over 450 years.

Valletta: A city built for walking

Valletta was founded in 1566 by Grand Master Jean de Valette, in the aftermath of the Great Siege of 1565, a Renaissance city built on a narrow peninsula between two great harbours. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 300 monuments packed into barely half a square kilometre — and almost entirely pedestrianised, so once you're in the city, everything is within easy reach on foot. Malta consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, so enjoy walking between the venue, restaurants and hotels well into the evening. Along the way you'll find a lively mix of harbourside restaurants, wine bars tucked into side streets, and rooftop terraces looking out over the Grand Harbour — Valletta has a vibrant good food and bar scene.

Congress accommodation

For delegates who'd like to stay inside the historic city itself, Valletta has a growing number of boutique hotels and guesthouses in beautifully converted townhouses — a lovely option if you want to be steps from the venue and the old town after hours. Early booking is adviasable.

The conference's main hotel block, however, will be in Sliema, Malta's lively seafront town just across the water. Getting from Sliema to the MCC is easy:

- **Ferry** – the passenger ferry across Marsamxett Harbour takes about 10 minutes and runs roughly every 30 minutes; it's a scenic and popular option, landing a short walk from the venue.
- **Bus or Uber/Bolt** – regular routes connect Sliema and Valletta in around 15–20 minutes.

Congress program

We are in the process of planning an academically-exciting scientific program, combined with workshops and symposia. We encourage everyone to join us for the fabulous gala dinner in the historic grand hall, preceded by a welcome reception with breath-taking views of the Grand Harbour (weather-permitting). If the stars align, the International Fireworks Festival will be taking place at the time of the Congress, a truly spectacular event. And bring your dancing shoes… we have a real Maltese after-party experience in store.

Valletta Highlights
If time permits, take the opportunity to explore some of Valletta’s historic sites on foot, or via a Grand Harbour cruise for a completely different view of Valletta's bastions and the surrounding forts from the water. A short ferry across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua) takes you to a quieter, atmospheric corner of Malta's history, with none of the crowds of Valletta itself.
Key historic sites in Valletta include:

1. St. John's Co-Cathedral - Built by the Knights of St. John in the 1570s with its opulent Baroque interior and two Caravaggio paintings.
2. The Grandmaster's Palace - Former seat of the Knights of Malta, now the presidential palace and House of Representatives.
3. Fort St. Elmo - Star-shaped fortress from the 1565 Great Siege; now home to the National War Museum.
4. Upper Barrakka Gardens - Former private garden of the Knights' Italian Langue, overlooking the Grand Harbour; adjacent Saluting Battery fires ceremonial cannon daily at noon and 4pm.
5. Auberge de Castille - Baroque lodge built for the Knights' Castilian langue; now the Prime Minister's office.
6. National Museum of Archaeology - Housed in the Auberge de Provence; holds Malta's prehistoric artefacts, including the "Sleeping Lady" figurine.
7. City Gate and Parliament House - Modern entrance to Valletta (Renzo Piano design) beside the old fortifications.
8. Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta's striking open-air theatre - built within the ruins of the city's old Royal Opera House, which was bombed in the Second World War and left roofless for decades before a Renzo Piano renaissance in 2013.

We look forward to welcoming you to Valletta on 21–24 April 2027 — for the science, and for the city.

Warm regards,

Marie-Klaire Farrugia
Local Organising Committee Chair, ESPU 2027